Supply Chain Research

Chinese managers’ export expectations hit their highest since March 2011 in September. The reading of 51.3% (over 50% indicates above-average orders) compares to 50.4% a month earlier. That had come after three months of a slowdown, and partly reflects a 6% growth in exports in August. It would also suggest that business fears about protectionism remain low. The key risk there is the U.S. review of Chinese intellectual property policies (“section 301”) that may result in significant leeway for President Trump to implement tariffs ahead of his November visit to China.